Easy access to arms and ammunition, a porous border with India, presence of underground outfits and activities of some anti-election groups have been deemed as threats to the upcoming polls in Province 2.

The challenges were taken up in a security meeting that began in Janakpur on Wednesday to assess the ground reality ahead of the federal and provincial elections scheduled for November 26 and December 7.

Chief district officers of the province and the chiefs of local security agencies expressed their concern over anti-election activities, recommending heavy deployment of security personnel to thwart untoward activities.

While full-fledged security mobilisation in the eight districts is due, Province 2 is expected to see the highest number of temporary police on the ground. As many as 22,156 of the total 98,268 recruits across the country will be mobilised in the Madhes province.

Multiple sources privy to the meeting confirmed that discussions so far show that at least 45,000 police personnel, including temporary recruits, are likely to be deployed in the eight districts.

The security situation in Bara, Dhanusha, Mahottari, Parsa, Rautahat, Saptari, Sarlahi and Siraha districts has been categorised as “sensitive”.

Additional Inspector General Bijaya Lal Kayastha, the police chief in Province 2, said they would get additional support from other districts and the police headquarters for the elections.

Calling for additional logistics and human resource, AIG Kayastha said they are planning to address the security concerns in the districts.

Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba, who also looks after the Home Ministry, inaugurated the security meeting and instructed officials to work for the success of the elections crucial for implementing the constitution promulgated two years ago.

Cadres of the Netra Bikram Chand-led Communist Party of Nepal and supporters of “Free Madhes” campaigner CK Raut are considered as major obstacles to the elections. The meeting was attended by the home secretary and the chiefs of Nepal Police, Armed Police Force and the National Investigation Department and the concerned chief district officers